Magnificent Folly by Iris Johansen

  "None at all." He fell into step with her. "The possibilities intrigued them." "Then why were you worried about my reaction?" "Because you were walking a very fine emo­tional line, and it was too important to me to take the chance." He met her gaze. "You were too important."

  Her chest felt suddenly tight, and it was hard to breathe. She was conscious of the sensitivity of her nipples as they pressed against the material of her bra; the scent of his woodsy cologne; the lean, warm strength of his body only Inches away.

  She hurriedly averted her gaze. "I don't see the point in encouraging all of you to spread these psychic powers anyway. The world's gotten along very well for centuries without them."

  "But that wasn't the purpose at all." Andrew's tone was surprised. "We projected that the major­ity of the children born would only be latent telepaths, like Cassie."

  "Then why?"

  "The intelligence expansion could be inherited, and we didn't think it fair that we had a monop­oly on it."

  Lily stopped short. "Walt a minute. I think IVe missed something."

  He frowned. "I told you that those volunteers in Garvania had submitted to a mlnd-expanslon chemical."

  "From which they received telepathic talents."

  "That was only the offshoot. I thought you real­ized that. The drug also opened approximately another thirty percent more of their brains for use."

  "You . . . forgot to mention that," Lily said blankly.

  "It doesn't make us superbrains. It only allows us to learn more."

  "A colony of bloody geniuses," Lily said dazedly. "No wonder Said Ababa wants the Clanad back."

  Andrew looked embarrassed. "It doesn't make us any different from anyone else."

  "The hell it doesn't." She was thinking quickly. "Cassie. It was perfectly natural that Cassie turned out to be a child prodigy, wasn't it? Are the other children bom from donors equally talented?"

  "More or less."

  She shook her head. "I feel like Alice in Wonder­land."

  "I don't know why you're so upset. I tell you, it's only a change in capacity. We're still very human. We make stupid blunders. We charge In where we shouldn't." He touched her cheek with his fingers with infinite gentleness. "We fall in love with women who refuse to love us back."

  "Andrew ..." She gazed at him helplessly. The additional information should have frightened and repelled her, but somehow It didn't. There was nothing frightening about Andrew, Gunner, or any of the people she had met since she had come to Sedikhan. Andrew was perhaps more vulnera­ble and human than anyone she had ever met. Just looking at that lean, gentle face she felt as if

  something inside her were breaking up, dissolv­ing, melting. "I should go inside."

  "In a minute." His finger moved down her cheek, and then her throat. "It seems as if I haven't touched you for a hundred years. Does it seem like that to you too?"

  "Yes." His touch was gossamer-light, yet left a trail of tingling electricity in its wake. He placed one finger in the hollow of her throat, and she felt the betraying pulse leap in response.

  "Do you remember that first night you came to me?" A flush mantled his cheekbones, and his eyes glittered fever-bright. "You were so tight, I was sure I was hurting you." He smiled as he felt the throb of her heart against the pad of his finger. "But then you held me tighter and tighter, until I thought you'd drive me out of my mind."

  His touch, the erotic memories the words evoked, the sheer sensual presence of him were making her dizzy and weak. She could feel the muscles of her stomach clench as a tingling heat stabbed through her.

  "I want it again. Now."

  "No. Cassie .

  'Tonight, then. Are you in the master bedroom?"

  She nodded dumbly.

  "Ill come to you at eleven. Okay?"

  Her lips were trembling as she tried to smile. "I think I'm being seduced again."

  "I'm doing my damnedest." Andrew grinned with sudden boyishness. "A real bed, Lily. And time to lie in that bed with you and play and hold you all night.if I want. Doesn't that sound great?"

  A surge of maternal tenderness banished the last of her defenses. Sweet heaven, he was so dear. "Just great," she said shakily. "If Mrs. Mug­gins permits."

  "Mrs. Muggins likes me to have what's good for me." He leaned forward and kissed her hard and sweet. "And you're very good for me. Ill send her to baby-sitjCassie." He opened the door behind her and gave her a little push into the foyer. "Eat dinner and then have a nice restful evening. You won't get much rest later."

  "And will you be resting too?"

  He hesitated. 'I have to go over to the hospital for an hour or so."

  Therapy?" She frowned in concern. "Are you doing what you did with Cassie?"

  He shook his head. "Nothing in depth. I'm just checking up on someone." His eyes twinkled. "But 1 promise 111 save plenty of energy."

  He kissed her again, turned, and strolled down the path toward the car.

  Lily gazed at her reflection in the bathroom mirror with dissatisfaction. Was she too pale? Perhaps she should put on a little more makeup. The emerald green of the satin robe went well with her chestnut hair, but it made her look sur­prisingly flamboyant. Perhaps she should change before Andrew got there. She still had fifteen min­utes before he—

  For Pete's sake, she was dithering like a ner­vous virgin, she thought in disgust. Those pas-

  sionate encounters on the beach might Just as well not have happened. She felt shy and scared, and yet so excited, butterflies were as active as Chinese acrobats in her stomach.

  She would definitely change the robe, she de­cided as she turned and opened the door leading to the bedroom. The brown was more discreet, suited her personality, and she'd feel much more comfortable when—

  Andrew was lying naked in the big double bed across the room, tanned and golden, his eyes gaz­ing at her with glowing eagerness. A slow smile lit his face. "I couldn't wait."

  She drew a deep breath, straightened her shoul­ders, and moved toward him. "You surprised me."

  "I thought I'd present you with a/alt accompli. I was afraid you'd change your mind." He met her gaze. "Have you?"

  She moistened her lower Up with her tongue as she stopped before him. "No, but you mustn't take this to mean more than it does. Just because I want you doesn't mean—-"

  "Shhh." He knelt on the bed, the sheet falling away to reveal the hard length of his arousal. "Stop fighting me. We both know this means more than sex. You're taking another step toward me." His hands untied the belt at her waist and parted her robe. "Aren't you, love?"

  He was right. No seduction had really been nec­essary this time. The decision to accept him in her bed had been her own, and meant more than she wanted to admit. "The lights ..."

  "Leave them on. I want to see you." His teeth

  were nipping teasingly at her right breast. "That flashlight didn't cut It." His lips compressed, pull­ing gentry at her nipple. "You don't mind, do you? You're so pretty."

  Fire streaked through her, as his tongue teas­ingly soothed the nipple his teeth had nipped. "No." She gasped, not even aware of what she was saying. "Anything..."

  He pulled her down on the bed, entering her with one deep stroke. She gasped and clutched desperately at his shoulders.

  "My sentiments exactly," he muttered as he ro­tated within her. "Anything." His thrusts esca­lated to a wild, fierce rhythm. "And everything."

  She heard something.

  For an instant Lily stiffened, momentarily plum­meted back to that terrifying moment at the beach house when Cassle had been taken.

  No, Cassle was safe. This was Sedikhan, and Andrew was lying beside her, his heart still pound­ing hard beneath her ear. But she had definitely heard something, and Andrew must have heard it, too, for he was stiffening against her.

  "My God, she's picking the lock."

  "Who?" Lily whispered.

  "I locked the door when I came in, but she's picking the damned lock!"

  Th
e door opened, and Mrs. Muggins glided into the room.

  Lily couldn't help it. She started to laugh.

  "It's not funny," Andrew said. "How the hell did she pick that lock?"

  Mrs. Muggins was humming an Irish lullaby as she paused beside the bed, reached down and carefully drew up the sheet, and rucked it gently but firmly around both their shoulders. Then, breaking into the chorus of "When Irish Eyes are Smiling," she turned and rolled toward the door. "Sleep tight, now, darlin's."

  The next instant she was gone.

  Lily was laughing so hard,, a stitch knifed through her left side. "Does she—" She had to stop for a moment. "Does she always tuck you in for the night?"

  "Always," he said gloomily. "I"m going to kill Mariana."

  "I think it's kind of sweet." Lily kissed his shoul­der and then began to chuckle again. "But, yes, I definitely do have to meet your sister."

  Mariana was dark, petite, and so charged with energy, it was like standing next to a lightning rod. She was also the frankest person Lily had ever run across.

  Mariana breezed into the dining room the next morning when they were having breakfast, and immediately dominated the room.

  "Hi, I'm Mariana." She kissed Andrew on the cheek, solemnly shook hands with Cassle, and winked at Lily. "No doubt my brother's been ma­ligning me to you, but none of it's true. Trust me. May I have breakfast?" She plopped herself down in the chair across from Lily, appraising her openly. "Gosh, you're beautiful. What great cheekbones. Mrs. Muggins!"

  "Right here." Mrs. Muggins instantly glided into the dining room from the kitchen area. "Ah, it's wonderful Miss Mariana."

  Andrew snorted.

  "Now, don't be disrespectful darlin'," Mrs. Mug­gins chided. "You know Miss Mariana is always right."

  Lily started to laugh.

  Mariana smiled blandly. "Of course you know that, Andrew. Why does she have to keep remind­ing you?"

  "You should know. It's a little thing called programming."

  "111 just have toast and orange juice. Muggins," Mariana said.

  "A very wise choice." Muggins turned and rolled out of the room.

  "She made us have a full breakfast," Andrew glowered. "Protein, fruit, vegetables."

  "But she realizes I know what's best for me. I incorporated excellent judgment into Muggins." Mariana leaned back in her chair and grinned at Lily. "Do you like her?"

  "I love her." Lily chuckled. "She's a darling. She has a real personality."

  Mariana nodded in satisfaction. "A combina­tion Mother Macree and the quintessential elec­tronic grandmother was what I had in mind."

  Andrew rose to his feet. "I refuse to sit here and watch you pat yourself on the back for creating the bane of my life. Are you finished, Cassie? Let's go for a walk in the garden."

  Cassie nodded and slipped from her chair. 'Then

  will you come to the music room? I finished the concerto. Mom heard it last night."

  "Did she?" He smiled faintly as his gaze met Lily's. "Now, I wonder why she didn't remember to tell me?" He took Cassie's hand. "Well go to the music room first. I can't wait."

  Mariana watched them leave the room and then turned back to Lily. "He loves you, blast it. Do you know how lucky that makes you? Why the devil are you hesitating?"

  Lily stiffened. "You're very blunt."

  "I believe in going straight for the jugular." Mar­iana grinned. "Life is too short to complicate it by dithering. According to what Andrew tells me, you've had some rough breaks, but now it's time to clear the decks and start fresh. Andrew's been forced to wait too long for you as it is."

  "I never asked him to wait."

  "So what? He waited. And hell probably keep on waiting. He's too tenderhearted to bulldoze the people he cares about." She wrinkled her nose. "He even puts up with my shenanigans."

  A smile touched Lily's lips. "Mrs. Muggins?"

  "Actually, I gave him Muggins for his own good. Andrew doesn't take proper care of himself." Mar­iana's smile faded. "And it's essential that he be in good physical condition for his work. I'm al­ways afraid when he starts a therapy."

  Fear surged through Lily. 'There's danger?"

  Mariana's lips twisted. "No more danger than wrestling with a homicidal maniac with no weapon to defend himself."

  "What could happen to him?"

  "You name it. The strain he undergoes is gigan­tic. Brain damage, coma, heart failure. Even the gentlest people have ferocious reactions when he's trying to undo a mental snarl. We seem to protect and nurture even the aberrations that are de­stroying us."

  "Then why does he do it?"

  "Because he cares." Mariana shook her head. "Because no one else can do it. Because he's Andrew."

  "That's no reason to let him risk himself," Lily said fiercely. "Why don't you stop him? Why don't you tell him he's too valuable to be destroyed?"

  "Why don't you? We've all tried, and gotten no­where. Haven't you noticed? Andrew has a king-size sense of responsibility."

  "Toward the entire human race? For Pete's sake, it's crazy to let him . . ." Lily trailed off as the tears rose to her eyes. She felt almost sick with fear and helplessness as she remembered how strained and ill Andrew had looked after he had finished helping Cassie. "There has to be some way to keep him safe."

  "There is." Mariana met her gaze. "Stop think­ing of your own problems and give him a reason for coming back when he goes under. You can't stop him from doing what he thinks is right, but you can hedge his gamble." She paused. "Don't you realize Andrew could straighten out your think­ing any time he wanted if he treated you as he does a patient? But he won't go under and do that. Hell just wait and go through hell until you manage to see things clearly, because he respects

  your individual rights." She repeated softly, "And because he's Andrew."

  Mrs. Muggins glided into the room and set a goblet of fresh-squeezed orange juice and a plate of toast on the table before Mariana. There you are, Miss Mariana. Now, you eat a fine breakfast, so you can go back to work and make me lots of kinfolk."

  Mariana stiffened with surprise. "Muggins, what—"

  But Muggins had turned and rolled from the room.

  "What's wrong?" Lily asked.

  Mariana was gazing bemusedly at the doorway through which Muggins had vanished. "Nothing, probably. I just don't remember programming her with a desire for others of her kind." She shook her head as if to clear it. "But I must have done it. Right?" She picked up a triangle of toast and bit into it. "Now, where was I?"

  Lily's eyes were twinkling. "Doing the bulldozing you said Andrew was too honorable to do."

  "Oh, yes. Well, I've said enough to give you food for thought. I've never believed in overkill." She picked up her orange juice and sipped it. "Now tell me all about Cassie. IVe never had a niece before."

  Lily chuckled. "You march in here, accuse me of lallygagging, scare me half to death, and then rush on to something else. I'm beginning to be­lieve there's a lot of you in Mrs. Muggins's pro­gramming."

  "Maybe." Mariana grinned. "I tried to make her

  as near human as possible, and no one can say I'm not riddled with human idiosyncracies." She gazed down into the orange juice in her goblet before asking, with a touch of belligerence, "Do you like me?"

  "Yes." Lily found she liked Andrew's sister very much indeed. She sensed something very appeal­ing and vulnerable beneath the girl's dynamic, eccentric surface. "I do like you."

  Relief flickered on Mariana's face before she low­ered her lids to hide it. 'That's good," she said offhandedly. "Not everybody does. Sometimes I'm pretty hard to swallow."

  Lily nodded. "Like a shot of straight vodka."

  Mariana nodded. "You're honest. That's super. I hate hypocrites." She took another swallow of orange juice, set it down, and rose abruptly to her feet. "I have to go."

  Lily was startled. "Right now?"

  "I have to get back to the laboratory to work on Mr. Muggins, since we're through talking." She frowned u
ncertainly. "Aren't we?"

  She looked so like an anxious little girl that Lily smothered a smile. "I believe youVe covered the major points."

  Mariana moved toward the door. "I thought I had. You just do what I've said, and everything will work out." She left the room with neither a backward glance nor a farewell.

  The dining room seemed darker, as if a light had gone out.

  Mrs. Muggins rolled into the room and began to clear Mariana's place, clucking reprovingly. "The

  lass didn't even eat her toast. How can she expect to go on working the way she does, when she never eats? Oh, well. Miss Mariana always knows best." She whirled and glided toward the door. "Still, perhaps something should be done. ..."

  Lily shook her head in amusement as she placed her napkin on the table and stood up. Mariana might be in for a shock in the near future. Mrs. Muggins's programming seemed to be going awry, and off onto its own tangents.

  Lily's smile vanished as she moved toward the door. She had a sudden desire to see Andrew, to touch him, to assure herself that he was well and safe. What Mariana had told her had frightened her badly. Andrew had been right when he had said that the night before had been a giant step forward in their relationship, but there was still a long way to go. She wasn't even sure she could maintain a permanent relationship, and she knew Andrew would accept nothing else.

  Give him something to come back for, Mariana had said.

  But that meant a commitment Lily wasn't ready to make.

  Still, there was no hurry, she thought with re­lief. Andrew would be patient, and had told her he wasn't involved in any therapy at present. They would have time to work out their problems and come to a decision.

  Yes, there was still plenty of time.

  'The stars look closer here in Sedikhan." Lily

  leaned back in the lawn chair, her gaze fixed dreamily on the glitter-sequined sky. "Why do you suppose that is?"

  Andrew was sitting on a pillow on the flagstones of the terrace, beside her chair, and glanced up with a smile. "I could give you technical reasons, but I don't think you want them right now, do you?" He leaned his head comfortably against her knee. "You're more in the mood for fantasy."